Improved mode of securing pure and wholesome air in dwellings



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL E. SOMES, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVED MODE OF SECURING PURE AND WHOLESOME AIR iN DWELLINGS, ric.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 44,67 l dat-ed October1l, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL E. SOMES, of the city of Washington, in theDistrict of Columbia, have invented a new and useful useful mode ofsecuring pure and wholesome air in dwellings, halls, hospitals, andother places; and I do herebv declare that the following is a full andexact description of' the saine.

The nature of my invention consists in fixing or placing in thefurniture of dwellings, halls,

hospitals, and other like buildings and parts of buildings a receptaclefor containing charcoal, said receptacle being so constructed that theair in the apartment may have free circulation among and through thecharcoal, so as to be purified from noxious vapors and gases, while thecharcoal itself is retained in the receptacle so as not to be dispersedor scattered in or about the room or place in which the furniture is tobe used.

It has long been known that different kinds of charcoal have theproperty of absorbing and destroying noxious vapors and gases, butprevious to my invention this valuable property has not been availablein common household economy, for the reason that there has not been anyconvenient mode of applying it. By using it in the mode hereinafter morefully described it becomes easy to have at all times the air ofdwellings pure and wholesome without any inconvenient or unsightly useof the 1;)urifying material.

There are many different modes of applying my invention, as will beobvious after I have shown the manner in which it is to be applied insome of the more common articles of household furniture.

In the annexed drawings, I have shown a tall box, a., with double walls,e e, which might serve as the pedestal or support of a centertable. Bothwalls of the receptacle are pierced with numerous holes, so as to allowa free circulation of air through the charcoal contained in the box. Theholes are so ar ranged that those on the inside walls are not directlyopposite those on the outside, so as to prevent any particles ofcharcoal from falling out when the table or other article of' furnitureto which it is attached is moved.

Instead of having the charcoal-receptacle made with double walls, asshown, many other devices may be made to accomplish the object intended,which is so to inelose the charcoal that the air ofthe room may havefree access to it and yet the charcoal be retained with sufficientsecurity to prevent its waste. The inner lining, instead of being madeof boards, may be made of wire-gauze, coarse loose cloth, hair-cloth,wicker-work, plaited splits of wood, strawrushes, perforated plates ot'metal, porcelain, porous earthenware, and the like. Some of thesematerialssuch as wicker-work, metal plates, porcelain, &c.inay be usedfor the outer casing also.

If the piece of furniture does not require to be often moved, thecharcoal-recepticle may be made with a single wall, properly perforatedso as to admit ot' a free circulation of' air through the body ofcharcoal.

The perforations maybe arranged as shown in the annexed drawings, and togive a better appearance the holes may be finished with horn, ivory,bone, metal, wood of different colors, or in any way that may suit thefancy. Instead of being round, as shown, the perforations may be inelliptical scroll form, in the form of lattice-work, or of any otherform or configuration which will accomplish the object of permitting theentrance and exit of the air.

I have mentioned common wood charcoal, for the reason that it answers avery good purpose and is generally easily procured; but other kinds ofcharcoal--such as bone-black, charred peat, and mixtures ot' variouscarbonaceous matters, provided they are porous and possess the propertyof absorbing noxious vapors and gases-may be substituted for woodcharcoal;

The form of the charcoal-receptacle will of course vary with therequirements of the article of furniture to which it is attached. Inordinary tables and desks it may be made in the form of one or moredrawers or as a box, to be fastened to the under side of the table. Forsofas, lounges, and Ottomans it maybe in the form of a box or supportfor the seats. Stools, chairs, and benches may be provided with it inlike manner. The pcdestals of statues may with great convenience be madethe ch arenal-receptacle. In book-cases, ward robes, and the like, anypart found most convenient may be used as the charcoal-receptacle. Thebody of wash-stands will form, when made according to the principles ofmy invention, a very convenient receptacle for charcoal. A boX in theshape of a mattress may be fastened under beds or it may be in the formof a trundle-bed. There are frequently recesses and other parts ofhouses where permanent charcoal-receptacles may be arranged so as toresemble chests, tables, settecs, book-cases, and the like.

rlhe charcoal, when placed in the receptacle, should be thoroughly dryand freshly burned. It' it has been kept some time, it should be placedin an oven and thoroughly dried before being used. Thecharcoal-receptacles should he made so as to be readily opened for thepurpose ot' changing and removing the charcoal as often as 'may benecessary, for it is well known that charcoal after having been usrdbecomes more or less impaired in its power of absorbing vapors andgases, but by placing it in an oven or retort and bringing it nearly toa red heat it is fully restored.

When used in ordinary dwellings, as above indicated, it. is notnecessary to renew the charcoal more than once in a year, and even afterlonger periods it will still possess some purifying power, for charcoalnotl only absorbs decaying organic matters and eftluvia, but de composesand destroys them.

ln regard to the size of the charcoal to be used no definite rule needbe given, since it should be regulated by the size and kind ot'receptacle used. Charcoal asordinarily sold by charcoal-burnerswillanswer very well, but for general use pieces about the size of a walnutare preferred.

When charcoal is placed in an apartment. in t`ie manner above describedthe natural cur rents in the air will generally sutce to keep it pureand wholesome, but when it is desirable artificial currents maybe madeto pass the a'r quickly through the charcoal-receptacle. Mechanism suchas is well known for producing` a blast, as in certain kinds ot' lampsand for earbureting air, will answer for this purp( se; but such meansare not at all necessary,

except when it is required to purify the air very rapidly-as in cloudedassemblies or when the air is heavily loaded with noxious vaporsfor theprinciple known as that of diffusion of gases will enable charcoal inany part ot' a room to absorb the noxious vapors from all parts of theroom.

Frein long-continued experiment I am persuaded that the introduction ofmy invention into general use would greatly add to the health andcomfort of the people, for even in the best-kept rooms the air isconstantly vitiated from the presence of animal matter thrown oitthrough breathing and perspira tion. This is especially the case inhouses that are imperfectly ventilated, as is the ease since the generaluse of stoves and furnaces during cold Weather.

I do not claim, broadly, the principle of purifying air by passing itthrough charcoal, nor

do 1 claim removing noxious vapors and gases ffoin cellars and similarplaces by spreading in them'charcoal.

I am also aware that charcoal has 4been used as a filling materialbetween the walls and lining` of safes, refrigerators, ice-houses, andthe like, but such use is for ay purpose entirely different from thatwhich is accomplished by, my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

1. The manufacture of articles of household furniture with receptaclesfor containing charcoal, substantially as herein set fort-h anddescribed.

2. The mode herein described of purifying the air in dwellings, halls,hospitals, and other places by means of a charcoal-receptacle,constructed substantially as herein specified.

D. E. SOMES.

Witnesses D. W. RAULET, J. S. HAYES.

